Jerry Lee Lewis

A highly skilled instrumentalist and vocalist, Lewis wrote few songs; his was the art of the stylist, the interpreter able to put a personal stamp on a vast and diverse repertoire. A man of tremendous contradictions, he was tormented by conflicts between the hedonism of rock and roll and his strict religious upbringing. Like his cousin, television evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, with whom he grew up, Lewis was torn between flesh and spirit. He captivated legions of fans with his flamboyant attitude and unpredictable, charismatic showmanship in stage, television, and film appearances. His blond hair falling in his face, he exhibited seemingly boundless energy and a menacing sexuality while carrying out various stage antics: standing on the piano, playing it with arms and feet, kicking over the stool, even lighting the instrument on fire.

In 1958 scandal nearly ended his career. While on tour in England, Lewis was scorned by the press when it was learned that he had married his 13-year-old cousin (the daughter of his bassist). That Lewis’s previous marriage was still valid only made matters worse. Despite the ensuing boycott, Lewis continued recording and performing wherever he could. In 1961 his version of Ray Charles’s What’d I Say was a hit. Lewis soon returned to England, this time greeted as a star. Nevertheless, his comeback was complete only in the late 1960s, after he had shifted his musical focus and had a series of hits on the country charts.

The subject of biographies, documentaries, and a major Hollywood film, Lewis’s life was punctuated by erratic behaviour, alcohol and drug problems, bouts of ill health, tax debts, wild escapades, and six marriages. His talent, persistence, longevity, and huge legacy of recordings, however, guarantee his place among rock music’s royalty.